Comb

ABSTRACT

A comb includes a generally flat, planar body having a left side surface, a right side surface, a top edge, a handle end, and an opposite front end. A plurality of teeth is provided on the body, each tooth having a root secured to the comb body near the top edge and having an opposite free end, a first barb projecting in a first direction towards the handle end and being located approximately half a distance between the root and the free end, and a second barb projecting in a second direction opposite the first direction, and being located approximately half a distance between the first barb and the root.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims 35 USC 119 priority from U.S. Ser. No.62/486,256 filed Apr. 17, 2017, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to hair combs, and more particularly tosuch combs constructed and arranged for use by barbers, hair stylistsand other hair care professionals.

Conventional styling combs used by hair care professionals have beenadapted over the years to perform more and more styling-relatedfunctions. For example, the comb teeth have been provided with barbs orother projections for enhanced grasping and holding of hair strands forcutting. The comb handle has been modified to enhance gripping by thestylist, and to improve ergonomic properties of the comb to reducestylist fatigue in the hand muscles. An edge of the comb near bases ofthe teeth has been used as a guide for powered clippers or trimmers. Inaddition, the comb itself has been configured to better grasp and coilor otherwise position locks of hair for easier cutting or otherwisemanipulating by the stylist.

It has been found that conventional styling combs of this type have beendeficient in sufficiently achieving the needs of hair stylists in beingeffective in grasping and manipulating hair, being ergonomicallyeffective in reducing stylist hand fatigue, and in serving as a guidefor powered hair clippers and trimmers. Thus, there is a need for animproved styling comb.

SUMMARY

The above-listed need is addressed by the present comb, which featuresmultiple barbs on each comb tooth for more aggressively grasping hairstrands. Each tooth is provided with a first barb near a tooth basefacing in a first direction, and a second barb spaced linearly from thefirst barb and facing in an opposite direction. It is preferred that thetwo sets of barbs are oriented approximately 180° degrees from eachother. Also, the barbs are located in a plane defined by the comb teeth.In addition, the present comb is provided with a recessed guide slotspaced between bases of the comb teeth and a top edge of the comb. Theslot is located parallel to a longitudinal axis of the comb, and islocated between the teeth and the curved, beveled top edge portion ofthe comb which is configured for improved grasping of hair strands asthe comb is rotated by the stylist about the longitudinal axis.

Improved gripping by the stylist is achieved by a radially enlargedgripping collar extending from left and right side surfaces of the comband located at a relatively narrow “neck” of the comb between the teethand the handle. Also, the handle is provided with finger grip recessesalong one edge, and a lobed handle end.

More specifically, the present comb includes a generally flat, planarbody having a left side surface, a right side surface, a top edge, ahandle end, and an opposite front end. A plurality of teeth is providedon the body, each tooth having a root secured to the comb body near thetop edge and having an opposite free end, a first barb projecting in afirst direction towards the handle end and being located approximatelyhalf a distance between the root and the free end, and a second barbprojecting in a second direction opposite the first direction, and beinglocated approximately half a distance between the first barb and theroot.

In another embodiment, a comb is provided, including a generally flat,planar body having a left side surface, a right side surface, a topedge, a handle end, and an opposite front end. A plurality of teeth isprovided, each tooth has a root secured to the comb body near the topedge and having an opposite free end, a first barb projecting in a firstdirection towards the handle end, and a second barb projecting in asecond direction opposite the first direction. The top edge is archedand has a beveled surface formed by the left and right side surfaces toform a relatively narrow edge portion.

It is preferred that the first and second barbs, which are preferablygenerally triangular in shape, project approximately 180° from eachother, and within a plane defined by the comb teeth. The present combincludes a guide slot projecting along each of the left and right sidesurfaces, extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the comb body,and located between the roots and the top edge. A handle of the body hasat least one finger grip on a lower edge, and one of the grips is formedby a narrow neck. Gripping formations extend radially from the left andright side surfaces at the neck for enhancing gripping by the stylist. Ahandle end of the comb forms an asymmetric lobe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present comb;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of same;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the comb of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of same;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the comb of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of same; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the comb of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, the present comb is generally designated 10,and includes a generally flat, planar comb body 12, which is preferablyintegrally formed of molded plastic or similar self-supporting, durablematerial. The body 12 has a left side surface 14, a right side surface16, a top edge 18, a handle end 20, and an opposite front end 22. Alsoincluded on the body 12 is a plurality of teeth 24, each toothpreferably being identical, having a root 26 secured to the comb bodynear the top edge 18, and having an opposite free end or tip 28. A firstbarb 30 is generally triangular in shape when viewed from the left andright sides, and projects or points in a first direction towards thehandle end 20. While other locations are contemplated, it is preferredthat the first barb 30 on each tooth 24 is located approximately half adistance “D” between the root 26 and the tip (FIG. 1). Also, FIGS. 1-3illustrate that an optional additional first barb 30 a is preferablylocated on the body 12 near a first tooth 24 a.

A second barb 32 projects in a second direction opposite the firstdirection and towards the front end 22. While other locations arecontemplated, as is the case with the first barb 30, the second barb 32is preferably located approximately half a distance “d” between thefirst barb and the root (FIG. 1). It is further preferred that the firstand second barbs 30, 32 project approximately 180° from each other andare located within a plane defined by the teeth 24 (FIG. 7).

Also found on the comb body 12 is a recessed guide slot 34 projectingalong each of the left and right side surfaces 14, 16 and extendingparallel to a longitudinal axis “A” of the comb body (FIG. 2). In thepreferred embodiment, the guide slot 34 is located between the roots 26of teeth 24 and the top edge 18. More specifically, it is especiallypreferred that the guide slot 34 is located closer to the roots 26 thanto an apex 36 of the arched or curved top edge 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, another feature of the arched topedge 18 is that a beveled surface 38 formed on each of the left andright side surfaces 14, 16 at the top edge forms a relatively narrow ortapered edge portion 40 relative to the body 12. A line 41 defines alower extent of the tapered edge portion 40, which is generally“D”-shaped. The beveled surfaces 38 on each of the sides 14, 16 combineto form a general tapered wedge-shape as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. It hasbeen found that the arched shape of the top edge 18 is more comfortableto the subject receiving styling, since the comb 10 is optionally placedagainst the subject's head. By providing the arched profile, with thebeveled edge portion 40, user comfort is increased through use of thepresent comb 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 6-7, a handle 42 is integrally formed onthe body 12 between the teeth 24 and the handle end 20, and meets thebody at a narrowed neck 44. As is seen in FIGS. 1-3, the neck 44 isadjacent the teeth 24. At least one and preferably a plurality ofarcuate finger recesses 46 are formed on a lower handle edge 48. Onesuch recess 46 a is formed by the neck 44 at the lower edge 48. Inaddition, another recess 46 b is located on a handle top edge 50, whichis continuous with the top edge 18. Also, the arched top edge 18 extendsfrom the neck 44 to the front end 22.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the neck 44 is provided with raised,radiused gripping formations 52 on each of the left and right sidesurfaces 14, 16. In the preferred embodiment, the formations 52 arearched relative to a plane of the respective side surface 14, 16, andhave spaced, generally parallel flutes 54, however it is contemplatedthat the particular configuration and arrangement may vary to suit theapplication. When the user grips the comb 10, the formations 52facilitate gripping, as well as rotating the comb about the longitudinalaxis “A” during the styling operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, at the handle end 20, the comb 10 has acurved lobe 56 that also enhances the ergonomic comfort of the comb in auser's hand. More specifically, the lobe 56 is asymmetrical relative tothe longitudinal axis “A” of the body 12 (FIG. 2).

While a particular embodiment of the present comb has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made thereto without departing from theinvention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the followingclaims.

1. A comb, comprising: a generally flat, planar body having a left sidesurface, a right side surface, a top edge, a handle end, an oppositefront end; and a plurality of teeth, each said tooth having a rootsecured to said comb body near said top edge and having an opposite freeend, a first barb projecting in a first direction towards said handleend and being located approximately half a distance between said rootand said free end, and a second barb projecting in a second directionopposite said first direction, and being located approximately half adistance between said first barb and said root.
 2. The comb of claim 1,wherein said first and second barbs project approximately 180° from eachother, and within a plane defined by said teeth.
 3. The comb of claim 1,wherein said first and second barbs are generally triangular in shape asviewed from said right and left sides.
 4. The comb of claim 1, furtherincluding a guide slot projecting along each of said left and right sidesurfaces and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said combbody.
 5. The comb of claim 4, wherein said slot is located between saidroots of said teeth and said top edge.
 6. The comb of claim 1, whereinsaid top edge is arched and has a beveled surface formed by said leftand right side surfaces to form a relatively narrow edge portion.
 7. Thecomb of claim 1, further including a handle on said body between saidteeth and said handle end, said handle having at least one finger gripon a lower edge.
 8. The comb of claim 7, wherein said handle is formedon said body with a narrowed neck portion adjacent said teeth.
 9. Thecomb of claim 8, wherein said neck is provided with raised radiusedgripping formations projecting from each of said left and right sidesurfaces.
 10. The comb of claim 7, wherein said handle end forms acurved lobe.
 11. The comb of claim 10, wherein said lobe is asymmetricalrelative to a longitudinal axis of said body.
 12. A comb, comprising: agenerally flat, planar body having a left side surface, a right sidesurface, a top edge, a handle end, an opposite front end; a plurality ofteeth, each said tooth having a root secured to said comb body near saidtop edge and having an opposite free end, a first barb projecting in afirst direction towards said handle end, and a second barb projecting ina second direction opposite said first direction; and said top edge isarched and has a beveled surface formed by said left and right sidesurfaces to form a relatively narrow edge portion.
 13. The comb of claim12, wherein said arched top edge extends on said body from a narrow neckdefining an end of a handle to a front end of said comb.
 14. The comb ofclaim 13, wherein said neck is provided with raised radiused grippingformations projecting from each of said left and right side surfaces.15. The comb of claim 14, wherein at least one of an upper and a loweredge of said neck defines one of a plurality of finger grips in saidhandle.